Racist bus rant sparks police probe

Two sisters of Indian origin were told to go back to their own country in a racial attack on a city-bound bus earlier this month.

A woman of solid build who has been described as "very manly" slapped the sisters around the face after getting off the bus, which left Bay Street, Port Melbourne, about 12.30pm on December 12.

The aggressor launched her attack when one of the sisters accidentally knocked her with a handbag, police believe.

Senior Sergeant Steve Bills, officer in charge of the St Kilda Road police station, said the sister whose bag had bumped the larger woman had tried to apologise.

But, he said, the aggressive woman shouted abuse and told the sisters to "go back to your own country". Other things were said but Senior Sergeant Bills did not specify what they were.

"The girls got off the bus, the woman followed them, slapped them and smashed a mobile phone," he said, adding that the woman then got into a taxi.

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Security footage from the bus was not available, Senior Sergeant Bills said, because the camera was faulty.

The woman is described as being 160 centimetres tall, of solid build and had short, spiky blonde hair. She was wearing a black T-shirt with the word "Burberry" written on the front and three-quarter length blue pants.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.